Electrical tape is nothing like the basic tape we use on a daily basis to temporarily fix things around the house. Although you can use it in a "crisis" if you can’t manage to find your regular saviour tape, the electrical tape is meant primarily for insulation and securing electrical wires. So, it does a lot more than connecting two pieces together.

What is an Electrical Tape?

Electrical tape is usually made out of vinyl/PVC material and strong adhesive. Unlike regular tape, electrical tape is stretchy and thicker. As the name suggests, it is mostly used for securing and insulating wires or anything else electricity-related. Duct tape PVC does not conduct electricity and it’s the ideal solution for exposed wires. It is also fireproof and heat resistant to some point. Electrical fires are very common and although some cannot be prevented, you should try and protect the wires you’re aware aren’t safe and pose a threat.

The fact that the electrical tape is stretchy makes it super easy to work with. You can apply it even on not so smooth and convenient surfaces without putting in much effort. At the same time, it wraps around wires tightly and stays in place meaning that whatever fixture you’re doing with the stretchy duct tape PVC, is going to last a very long time.

Apart from being fireproof, electrical tape is also moisture-resistant, it doesn’t get damaged from drastic changes in temperatures and exposure to sunlight. It is basically indestructible and one of the strongest materials you can use for dealing with wire and electricity problems and insulation.

How Many Types of Electrical Tape are There?

The list of electrical tapes available to buy is very long. There’s no such thing as one duct tape fits all. Insulating tapes differ from one another both by the materials and the colours. Although the standard electrical tape is black and people usually go with it, that’s not all there is. Apart from black, there are also red, blue, brown, orange, yellow, green, green with yellow stripes, white and grey electrical tapes.
What do the colours mean? Each colour represents a wiring phase. Black is for insulation of all sorts of electrical wires that are low voltage and is used when the insulation doesn’t have to be specific. Red is also used for low voltage wires but for phase three. Blue is for low voltage neutral wires. Brown is for high voltage phase A. Orange is also for high voltage. Yellow is for high voltage and used for site wiring. Green and green with yellow stripes are used for earth wires. White is for low voltage and grey is for high voltage phase C.

Now about the materials. PVC/vinyl electrical tape (the one I mentioned earlier) is the most commonly used type. It is very resistant and suitable both for indoor and outdoor applications. PTFE tape or Teflon tape is one that doesn’t conduct even the slightest amount of electricity and it is very sturdy. It retains its original shape and strength regardless of the conditions it is exposed to.

Cloth electrical insulation tape is one that has poor insulation properties and it is not recommended for wire insulation rather for doing some fixes and repairs. It is a very good choice for mechanical purposes and very strong too.
Rubber electrical tape is the type of tape you can use for literally anything. And you can also find diverse types of rubber tape. People usually go for the rubber tape when they need to secure wires or repair something in rough conditions such as construction sites. Its strength is unmatched and it works well both with medium and high voltage wires.

Polyamide electrical tape is very thin but durable and able to resist high temperatures and voltages. It is widely used in the automotive and computer industry. It is fireproof and overall stronger than all the other tapes although tinner.

What is polyester tape used for? Polyester tape can be used in combination with other types of tapes for insulation and better performance. Polyester electrical tape is also one that’s thin but despite that, it is very resistant to tears and punctures.

Self-amalgamating electrical tape is one that doesn’t contain adhesives, instead, it needs to be stretched nicely and wrapped around the wire. The two merge and a nice protective layer is being formed. This type of tape is very easy to remove afterwards if additional repairs need to be made. Self-amalgamating tape is suitable for high-voltage wires.

What is Electrical Tape Used For?

With the electrical tape you can insulate wires, repair wires that are damaged, connect two wires or insulate anything else that conducts electricity in one way or another. Then again, there are also alternative uses for the electrical tape. It can be used for doing all sorts of repairs at home and even for home decoration. It can be used instead of a regular tape and as a label too. The electrical tape makes objects stronger, damage resistant and slippage resistant. For instance, you can adjust your glasses with electrical tape or wrap your drum sticks with it.

Electrical tape is also handy during camping trips and similar outdoor adventures. You never know when you’re going to need a quick fix and the tape can provide you with one. In the end, it all comes down to how creative you are.

The Benefits of Using Electrical Tape

Electrical tape comes very handy for doing quick fixes at home and insulation of wires that are damaged, exposed and dangerous to the environment. You have different methods for connecting wires and doing it with electrical tape is one of them.

The tape is super easy to use but very strong. Instead of risking getting hurt from a wire or trying to fix it with materials that aren’t suitable, you should acquire an electrical tape and approach every DIY project related to electricity professionally.
The electrical wire is also multipurpose. You’re not restricted to using it for wire insulation only. You can use it to fix objects too. Apart from not conducting electricity and being resistant to tears and different weather conditions, the tape is also strong enough to make damaged objects as good as new again. It’s incredibly handy and versatile.